DALE FYRON'S POV

After the exam, I immediately packed my things and stood up to get out of the room. I need to hurry since I have to prepare my things for tomorrow. I'll stay in the hospital until Sunday because the principal just gave me 4 days so I have to go back to the university on Monday. Mom and tita were there so that they could accompany her in the hospital. I can't go there tonight because they told me that I should rest so that I could gain energy. Palagi nalang kase akong walang sapat na tulog dahil gusto kong bantayan siya buong magdamag. It doesn't matter to me if I won't sleep the whole day just to take care of her. I won't feel tired nor exhausted because she's my resting peace.

I sat on my bed and was about to sleep when I suddenly remembered a scene that happened here on my room. Yung time na natutulog ako tapos ginising ako ni Katria dahil hindi pa raw ako nakakakain at anong oras na. I placed my hand on the other side of the bed where she sat and wakes me up. We almost kissed that time if she didn't stoop up and went to the couch. I bit my lower lip and just chuckled when she also shouted and covered her eyes because she saw me naked. I really enjoyed that scene.

No matter how I tried to close my eyes, still I couldn't sleep. I just went to the kitchen to get a glass of milk in case that I could sleep. Dinala ako ng mga paa ko sa library at agad tumungo sa mga book shelves. Then, I saw the book that she read last time. She put something on it, a bookmark. I just put it back to the shelves and look around the whole library. Naalala ko rin yung time na nag-away kami dito ni Kat at pati rin si Cohen nadamay. We throwed many hurtful words to her but she just ignore it, though I know she's also hurt that time.

The next morning, I woke up early and wears a V-neck yellow shirt and black shorts. I just ate a sandwich before going to the garage and put my bag inside my car. My brothers were still sleeping on their room so I didn't bother to wake them up. Niliko ko ang kotse ko sa kanan dahil dadaan muna ako sa simbahan para magdasal bago dumeretso sa hospital. I bought two candles and light it up before placing it on the Mama Mary's image. I prayed for almost 7 mins. and enter the church. There's a few people inside and all of them were seniors. Umupo ako sa pinakaunahan dahil malaki naman ang simbahan at lumuhod roon. I closed my eyes and kept on praying that the surgery would be successful and she'll be okay. I'm not really used to go to church since then, like I don't have time or I just don't want to. Not until she came and taught us some things that we should learn since we were growing as an adult.

She said that she learned it on their province, and she's right. We applied those things she taught us and we learn different things from her. Pagkatapos nun, natuto kaming magsimba linggo-linggo dahil palagi niya kaming sinasama. She also said that we should say thank you to God for giving us the life we have right now and for the people who stayed by our side no matter what. It's not that we came to church just to wish for something we want, it's not reasonable, as what she said. I didn't expect that it would turn out like this, that I would beg to him just to save my girl's life.

" Oh, Dale. Nandito ka pala, anong sadya mo at napadaan ka rito eh hindi pa naman linggo." I was about to walk outside the church when Father Gio suddenly called me.

I smiled a little and bowed to show respect." Yes, father. I came here to pray for my girlfriend because she's in the hospital right now. Naaksidente kase siya nung isang araw at kailangan niyang maoperahan."

" Ganun ba? Siya ba yung babaeng palaging kasama niyo ng mga kapatid mo dito?." he asked.

I just nodded in response." Yes po. I don't even know what to do. It gave so much impact on her head that's why she need to undergo brain surgery." I answered worriedly.

He tapped my shoulders and smiled." Maayos din ang lahat, magtiwala ka lang sa Diyos. Mabait kang bata at magalang, ganun din siya. Alam kong gagaling siya, pangako 'yan. Ipagdadasal ko rin siya kaya 'wag kang mag-alala. May awa ang Diyos sa inyo kaya tiyak na hindi niya pababayaan ang minamahal mo."

" Thank you, father. Maybe she's on the operating room right now, I think I should go. Take care po." Nagmano ako sa kanya at ginulo niya lang ang buhok ko saka tumango.

" You're welcome, Daron. Bumalik ka ulit dito kapag may oras ka." He added.

" I will, father."

When I arrived to the hospital, I immediately asked the nurse where's her room. She said that she was transferred to the operating room a while ago that's why I ran to the room number 25 and I saw them sitting on the bleachers. They saw me so I got their attention.

" What took you so long, kuya? We thought that you're already here since you left so early in the mansion." Raizer asked when I sat on the bleachers next to them.

" I went to the church first and I talked to Father Gio a little bit." I answered as I put my bag beside me." How's Katria? Did they started the operation?!." I asked them.

Cohen let out a sigh and nodded."Yeah. Chineck-up pa nila si Kat bago nila tinransfer dito. Dapat raw kase maayos ang heartbeat at pulso niya para ligtas kapag sinimulan na nila. I'm started to feel nervous."

" I just hope that everything's gonna be fine. We'll just pray for here safety." Shael added.

" Hindi ko talaga alam ang gagawin ko kapag may nangyaring masama kay ate, kasalanan ko pa naman ang lahat." Akken messed up his hair, he kept on blaming himself after what happened.

" Maging malakas nalang tayo para sa kanya dahil alam kong lumalaban rin siya para sa'tin. Babalik siya alam ko 'yun." Tita said and gave us a warm smile.

It's been 3 and a half hours but the doctor was still inside the room. My brothers even fell asleep and also tita, mom, and dad. Their friends weren't here because their midterm haven't finished yet while Derrick and Vera were also busy checking their exams. Sabi nila mamayang hapon pa raw sila makakapunta para dumalaw ulit. I just stood up and walked back and forth because I felt uneasy. Seems like there's something bothering on me and I don't know what is it. As much as I wanted to enter the room, I couldn't because I'm not allowed since I'm not a doctor nor a nurse. Besides the room was also locked and there's no window that's why weren't informed what's going on inside.

I was just staring on the floor, thinking that it's already 5 hours but still there's no result. Wala pa kaseng lumalabas dun sa pinto kahit isa kaya nag-aalala na kaming lahat. All of them were eating in the cafeteria while I preferred to stay here to wait for some information. I don't feel anything, not even hunger or thirst. All that I'm feeling right now was worried and nervousness. Even though how they cheered me up, still it's just nonsense because it doesn't lessen my feelings.

" Finally, we're done." I immediately stood up when the doctor came out of the room."Where are they? I have some announcements to all of you." he added that made my heartbeat faster.

" T-They were still eating at the cafeteria. Can you tell me what is it, doc?." I asked nervously.

He just gave me a small smile."Let's just wait for them."

" The doctor was here, I think it's done." Mom came closer hurriedly together with tita and my brothers.

" So, since all of you were here I'm going to announce the result." The doctor cleared his throat and smiled on us." The surgery goes well so everything's alright. She's stable right now and we'll just wait for her to wake up." he added that made us felt relieved.

" Maraming salamat, doktor. Sobrang saya ko dahil naging matagumpay ang operasyon ng anak ko." Tita cried in happiness.

" You're welcome, maam. Gayunpaman, hindi ako sigurado kung kailan siya gigising. She's still recovering because of her surgery. Maybe it would took days, weeks, months and the worst is year. Kahit kami, hindi namin alam kung kailan." The doctor let out a sigh and face us with a worried reaction.

" It's okay, doc. Atleast she'll be recovering so there's nothing to worry about." I gave him a light smile.

They forced me to eat since we already know the result. I can't help but to smile when I realized that God heard my prayers. She's okay now and all we can do it to wait for her to wake up. I couldn't wait for it to happen. Gusto kong sabihin sa kanyang namimiss kona siya at maraming nangyari kahit ilang araw lang siyang wala. After eating, I went back to her room to see her condition. They bid goodbye to me because they're going back home for a bit. Tita already told the kids about what happened to their sister but they couldn't come here because kids weren't allowed to enter the hospital. Of course, they cried so hard knowing that their sister was on a hospital. But maybe tita would tell them later to make them feel better.

" How was the surgery?." Aira asked when she opened the door and the others was on her back.

" She's okay now. 'Yun nga lang, hindi namin alam kung kailan pa siya gigising. The doctor said that she's still recovering because of her surgery." I answered and gave them a convenient smile.

" God! Good thing she's okay now. Ang kailangan nalang natin hintayin ay kung kailan siya gigising." Doreen said and sat on the sofa with the girls.

" We brought her fruits in case she'll wake up. Kailangan niyang kumain ng mga masustansiyang pagkain para maging masigla siya ulit." Derrick placed the basket full of fruits in the table.

" I want to hangout with her whenever she wakes up. Namimiss kona talaga siya ng sobra." I immediately looked at Shin after hearing his words.

" Uy gago! Baka mamatay ka nalang hindi mo pa siya mahahawakan. Gagalit yung boyfriend niya ulol!." Binatukan siya ni Phillip kaya napadaing siya.

" Eh? Hangout lang naman hindi date. Ang damot naman parang 'yun lang." Shin crossed his arms and pouted like a baby.

I just rolled my eyes, of course I won't agree." If you want to hangout with her then count me in. You just said that it's not a date so you can be a third wheel. She's not going with you unless I'm with her."

Jaimie laughed so hard." Pumayag kana Shin, 'yun lang naman pala ang kondisyon eh. Just go with the flow."

" Aish. Nah. 'Wag nalang, ayoko na." He looked away, as if he's mad.

" Tampo tampo kapa eh hindi naman bagay sa'yo. I told you so many times that find a girl that suits for you. Marami namang babae dyan sa tabi-tabi, pumili ka nalang." Jeric suggested that made him throw a glare.

" Lol! Anong tingin mo sa babae, bato na basta basta lang mapupulot dahil marami namang pagpipilian?!." He answered annoyingly.

" Oo nga. Bwisit ka talaga kahit kailan JERICO! Sinasabi mo bang pinulot mo lang rin ako?!." Aika hissed and punched him on his chest.

" Sorry na babe. And it's Jeric, not Jerico." All of them laughed while I was just watching how they bond as friends. It would be so happy if Kate was with them, soon she'll be in.

Napailing nalang ako dahil sa pagbabangayan nila. Later on, they decided to leave because it's already dark outside and seems like its going to rain. I just brought coffee from the cafeteria and a box of donut for my snacks. It's already midnight but still I couldn't sleep that's why I decided to sat on the sofa where I always sleep and get my phone. May wifi naman kaya malaya akong makakapili ng gusto kong panoorin. I tried to watch the K-drama entitled 'Crash Landing On You' since that was her favorite before. I'm not really into this but I just want to try why'd she love watching this. She haven't finished watching the whole episode when the classes started.

Right after watching 3 episodes, I felt like my eyes started to fall that's why I just turn off my phone and lied down. When I woke up in the morning, the four was already there and preparing breakfast. They didn't told me that they'll be here this early. Pumunta muna ako sa cr at saka naghilamos, nag-toothbrush rin ako bago lumabas para kumain sa hinanda nila.

" Goodmorning, kuya. Did you sleep well?." Akken asked me and sat on the chair in front of me.

" Nah. I slept past 12 in the midnight." I answered and put a bacon and ham on my plate.

Shael's eyebrow frowned." Why? Did you wait for her to wake up? Grabe ka naman, kuya."

I just rolled my eyes at him." I'm not sleepy last night, stupid. Why are you here?! Aren't you going to the university?."

" Kuya, ano ka ba?! We're the owner of the university so there's no need to worry if we arrived late. Wala naman silang magagawa." Cohen crossed his arms, like he's really proud of it.

Someone knocked on the door that's why I immediately opened it. I saw tita in front of the door that's why I opened it widely. Nagmano ako sa kanya pagkapasok niya sa loob at binigyan siya ng upuan.

" Hindi pa ba siya nagigising?." She holds her hand rubbed it."Talagang hindi na ako makakapaghintay na magising siya. Namimiss kona siya, pati narin ang mga kapatid niya palagi akong tinatanong kung kamusta na ba ang ate nila at kung kailan siya makakauwi. Sa t'wing sinasabi kong hindi pa, nalulungkot sila at minsan nagkukulong nalang sa kwarto niya. Kahit sabihin kong maglaro sila o manood man lang ng TV para hindi sila malungkot ay ayaw nila. Iba parin daw kase kapag nandyan yung ate nila." She took a deep breathe and stared at her face sadly.

" I understand them, tita. It's really hard for them knowing that their sister was in a hospital. She's their one and only shield and protector in everything. Don't worry tita, I'll accompany them tonight so that they wouldn't feel lonely." I smiled at her, a convincing one.

" Salamat sa lahat lahat, hijo. Kung wala ang tulong mo ay hindi magiging maayos ang kalagayan niya ngayon." Her eyes started watering that's why I immediately hugged her.

" No, it's not a problem tita. It's my fault for not protecting her, after all. I'll do everything just for her sake." Kumalas ako sa yakap at nagpaalam na dahil aalis na ako.

It's Friday morning so the kids were probably in school right now. I decided to go to the church to pray again and also to visit Father and inform him that she's okay now. Before entering the church, I bought another candle and light it up just like what I did the last time. When I entered the church, there's a few seniors praying as usual. I saw Father Gio talking with an apostle and when he saw me, he immediately excused and went on my direction.

" Goodmorning, Father." Nagmano ako sa kanya at ngumiti.

" Aba! Ngiting-ngiti ka ngayon, ah. May nangyari bang maganda? Kamusta na siya?." he asked smilingly.

I just nodded and smiled." Yes, po. The surgery was successful and we'll just wait for her to wake up. Though, it would took days, weeks, or even months and a year."

" Talaga ba? Mabuti naman kung ganun. Narinig ng Diyos ang dasal natin, alam kong malapit na siyang magising. Konting tiis nalang, hijo." He comforted me and tapped my shoulder.

" Yeah. I can wait."

A few minutes after, I bid goodbye to go to the mall because I just feel to wander myself. Ice cream parlor is the place where I want to spend my time whenever I'm alone in the mall. When I stepped at the middle part of the mall and I remembered another scene here. As far as I remember, Katria was pissed that time because there are so many girls around us and flirting just to take some pictures with us. Of course, I'm irritated since I hate attentions. Someone argued with her that made everyone gasped. The girl was fighting against her without being afraid what might Kate do to her. And it turns out that she was embarrassed in front of everyone because Kat was smarter that what she think. Magaling siya makipagsagutan noon pa man.

I ordered a cup of cookies and cream and waited on the other side of the table where no one could disturb me. I even brought a guard on my side just to reject them if they wanted to sit on my side. There's only one person that I would let to sit beside me and it was my girl. Pagkatapos kong kumain ay bigla akong napadaan sa boutique kaya agad akong pumasok dito. I also remembered the necklace that caught her attention that's why I immediately went to the necklaces section. I felt relieved when I saw it, still displayed inside the glass. I called the saleslady and asked her to get it for me.

" Is this what you want, sir?." she asked.

I just nodded in response." Put in inside a black box and tie a red ribbon outside. Do it for me as a favor." I commanded her.

" Yes, sir."

I'm excited to give it to her whenever she wakes up. I want to present her a very special gift and I hope she'll love it. It's her favorite necklace but instead of buying it, I'll just get it for her. Alam kong gusto niyang paghirapan ang isang bagay bago ito makuha pero regalo ko naman 'to sa kanya kaya baka hindi lang rin siya magalit. I placed it inside my pants and decided to go visit her condo because it's been 4 days since I've got there. Maybe I'll just cook for my own food instead of eating in a restaurant even if it's free for me.

I have her keys so that I could enter her condo whenever I want. After looking for some food that can be cooked, I just end up cooking sinigang na baboy. She taught me some tecnics on how to cook it last time so I already know how. I ate by myself and washed the dishes after. Inayos ko lahat ng gamit na nagkalat para kapag nakabalik na siya dito ay wala na siyang aayusin. I changed my shirt before leaving the condo and drove to my favorite place.

It's almost 1:30 when I arrived on the lake, the place where I brought her for the first time. Mainit nga dahil hindi pa naman masyadong hapon kaya dun ako umupo sa ilalim ng puno. I stared at the lake and get some little stones, throwing it one by one. When I get bored, I just leaned on the tree at my back, resting myself on it. My day isn't really complete if I couldn't see her. I do really missed her so damn much. If time could just triple it's speed and days would pass by so fast so that she'll wake up immediately. I-I can't stand it anymore, knowing that she's not here by my side. Seeing the sunset together and sharing kisses with each other.

I stayed there for the long time, I think I left at exactly 4:00 to fetch the kids. Sinabihan kona rin si Derrick na ako nalang ang susundo sa kanila dahil dun din naman ako dideretso. I'll be the one to watch them for this night. I haven't talk to them since the incident happened. Kahit pagbisita ay hindi ko nagawa dahil sa sobrang busy. I was so preoccupied that time.

" Kuya Daron!." Sasha shouted and ran towards me.

" Hey baby girl." I messed up her hair and smiled.

She suddenly pouted." I'm not a baby anymore, kuya. Oo nga pala kuya, bakit ikaw yung sumundo sa'min at hindi si kuya Derrick?."

" Why don't you want me to fetch you?." I looked away, as if I'm mad.

She immediately hold my hand and kept on shaking it." Hala! Hindi naman sa ganun, kuya. Nagulat lang ako eh, teka nasa bahay ba si Inay?."

I shook my head in response."She's going to watch your sister for tonight that's why I'm going to babysit the two of you. You want that?."

" Huh?!." Kumunot ang noo ni Cyd sa sinabi ko." So you'll gonna be with us for the whole night? You wanna play with us?." He asked with sparkling eyes.

" Hmmm. If you want me to play with you, be sure that you'll behave okay? I'll also cook your favorite foods if you want." I opened my car and let them enter inside.

" Really? Yahyah. Promise, we'll behave." He answered and clapped his hands.

They didn't told me to cook food for us, instead they want to order a set of jollibee and so I did. I just let them watch cartoons in the TV while I put their uniforms in the laundry. Chineck ko rin kung maayos ba ang kwarto nila at maayos naman. The last room that I've checked was her room and I saw some stuffs on it. I didn't bother to close the door because I just want to explore her room, a tour I guess? I just chuckled when I saw my pictures on her wall, formal or even stolen pictures of mine.

" Kapag nandito si ate, palagi siyang may dinadagdag na mga pictures mo dyan sa pader na 'yan. Baliw talaga sa'yo, kuya." I heard Sasha's voice at my back that made me turned around.

" Is that so? Even if weren't in a relationship that time?." I asked her and she just nodded.

" She's really like that, nothing changed. Even now that you're together, she's still collecting some pictures of you." Cyd suddenly entered the room while crossing his arms.

" Good to hear that. And if you saw someone, a guy, who's with her tell me immediately. You sister is just mine. I don't like sharing her to others." I said and looked back on my pictures.

" Eh? Sounds like a jealous boyfriend, huh?." She laughed that made me remember her sister. They have the same voice and laughs.

Just hoping that she'll wake up... sooner or later.

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